Lawsuit Filed in Shooting Death Involving Former Eutawville Police Chief

Eutawville, SC (WLTX) -- A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed for the shooting death that involved Eutawville's former police chief. Bernard Bailey's widow filed the suit for the death that took place back on May 2 of 2011.

The lawsuit filed is against former Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs, the police department and the town. The Law Firm of Carl B. Grant, which is handling the suit, issued a statement saying, "It is time that this case is brought to court so that the thirst for the truth can be quenched, and the hunger for justice can be satisfied."

A federal investigation into that shooting is still underway and investigators have not said publicly if charges would be dropped or filed against the former police chief. Investigators have said Combs shot Bailey, but have not released any details about what may have led up to the shooting. Combs was put on administrative leave and a new chief was appointed to the department in November.

The U.S. Justice Department took over the investigation, but few details have been released about what may have happened. The Orangeburg County Coroner said Bailey was shot three times: once in the shoulder and twice in the chest.